Roxas woke up, tucked under the blankets. He knew from the smell instantly that it was Axel's bed. He opened his eyes, flicking them about the room until they settled on his best friend.
Axel was leaning against the wall, looking out the window. He was wearing in a thin black shirt and a pair of pinstripe trousers. His hair was smoothed back and tied in a neat, round bun.
"You're dressed already," Roxas said, wriggling free from the blanket cocoon.
"I've been up a while," he replied. He probably hadn't slept at all. "You can sleep a little longer. Marluxia doesn't open until nine anyway."
"I'm okay." Roxas sat up, patting the side of the mattress. "Hey. Come here."
Axel sighed heavily and pushed himself off the wall. His steps were weary as he crossed to sit on the edge of the bed. Roxas pulled him into a gently kiss. He tasted like minty toothpaste - he hadn't even smoked this morning. Roxas didn't press for anything more. Today of all days, Axel wasn't in the mood for sex. "I'm gonna be here for you, Axel. All day."
He gave a small, sad smile. "Thanks Rox." He gave him a soft, brief kiss. "Why don't you shower? We'll grab breakfast out."
After breakfast - though Roxas was the only one who ate - they headed across town to the rich people district, and the fancy florist. Roxas had asked once why he didn't go somewhere less overpriced - and was calmly informed that nobody else grew the flowers he needed.
Roxas hated the place. Rich, fancy places were always 'minimalistic' - which was a fancy person code word for clinically sterile white, big and as empty as possible. Normal florists were bursting with all kinds of flowers, in bunches you could pick up and buy. Marluxia's Garden was evenly dispersed with single flowers in thin glass tube vases. If you wanted anything, you had to place an order and hope the pink-haired guy liked your request enough to want to fulfil it.
Marluxia himself didn't even deign in man the desk. Axel had to ring a tinkling silver bell before he even appeared behind the counter. "Ah, Mr Lea," he greeted. His voice was so deep and masculine for his feminine appearance.
He always called Axel that. Sometimes Roxas straight up forgot Axel had a last name, until someone in a shop called him Mr Lea.
"Marluxia," the redhead greeted. "I'm here to pick up my order."
"As usual." The man disappeared behind the door again, giving Roxas a distrustful look. While he was gone, Roxas but a smudgy fingerprint on the back of a couple of the vases. Serve him right. "Thirteen fire lilies. Paid in full."
They were already in a glass vase, with soft peat moss to keep the stalks damp for longer. Axel took them in a careful hand, thanked Marluxia and led Roxas out.
Roxas's phone buzzed, and he took it out to glance at.
"Something important?" Axel asked, as he opened the door of his car.
"Naminé," he answered. Of course. Everyone else knew he was unavailable on this day.
The redhead's expression was carefully guarded. "What does she want?" He asked, carefully securing the flowers on the backseat.
"She's asking me what we're doing today." She was so pushy. He hadn't even suggested hanging out today. He knew he would be busy all day.
Axel's lips pursed as he slipped into the driver's seat. "You don't have to come with me, you know," he said in a sulking tone voice. "If you'd rather spend time with your girlfriend."
"Axe," Roxas said, leaning close to him. "You're my best friend. You come first. Mates before dates, right?"
Axel gave a tired sigh and didn't say anything about it. He only commented "put your seatbelt on" and turned the engine on.
They didn't talk much on the drive, they never did. Roxas plugged his phone into the cassette player and played their 'Axas Playlist'. There was a lot of Watery Illusion songs, which was only increasing as they got closer to the concert next weekend.
Roxas buzzed repeatedly - first short with texts from Naminé, then longer patterns as she rang.
"Roxas," Axel growled. "If that phone buzzes one more time I'm throwing it out the window."
Roxas laughed. But two minutes later, when it began to ring again, Axel snatched it out of his lap. He tugged out the sim card, then threw the entire phone out the window. "Axel!" he screeched in horror, watching the cord snap and the phone smash on the side of the highway.
"I'll buy you a new one," he replied.
"My dickpicks were on that!"
"You backed it up last night," Axel replied.
Roxas tried to stay angry at his best friend. But it was more peaceful without the phone buzzing every couple minutes. Though they didn't have music, he and Axel sung instead. The redhead was a little pitchy, but very enthusiastic.
He fell quiet when they reached the next town. His expression became guarded as he closed himself off. It was a lot quieter in Radiant Garden. The houses were big and even the apartment buildings were quiet and neat. It was a placid town.
Axel didn't stop, driving back out of the main city to the suburbs. He took a side street and only parked beside a field of green grass. They both got out, silent and respectful as, fire lilies in hand, Axel led their was down a well-kept path.
They eventually stopped and Roxas stood back as Axel moved forward. He knelt down, arranging the flowers in front of a round stone monolith. The orange and yellow lilies underlined five words:
Reno & Elena Lea. Loving parents.
The petals obscured the date, but Roxas knew it anyway. August 31st, just a couple weeks after Axel's seventh birthday.
Axel sat down and made himself comfortable, whispering: "hey Mom and Dad."